Personal wear absorbent article with tab

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article includes a central absorbent assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region interconnecting the front and back waist regions. Front side panels extend outward from the front waist region and back side panels extend outward from the back waist region. The article also includes a pair of tabs. Each tab has an attachment region attached to one of the front side panels and the back side panels, and a tab region extending transversely outward from the attachment region and being releasably attachable to the other one of the front side panels and the back side panels. The one of the front side panels and the back side panels to which the attachment region of the tab is attached has a first stiffness and at least a portion of the tab region of the tab has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to absorbent articles intendedfor personal wear, and more particularly to disposable absorbentarticles.

Many absorbent articles intended for personal wear, such as diapers,training pants, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products,bandages, medical garments and the like are designed to be sufficientlyabsorbent to pull moisture from liquid body exudates including urine,menses, blood, etc. away from the wearer to reduce skin irritationcaused by prolonged wetness exposure. Diapers, as an example, aretypically placed and secured on a wearer using a set of primaryfastening tabs, such as adhesive tabs or mechanical (e.g., hook or loop)fastening system tabs and left in place to absorb insults as well as tocontain fecal waste. When the diaper is to be disposed of, the caregiverwill sometimes fold the diaper into a more compact configuration andsecure the diaper in this configuration using the primary fasteningtabs.

Training pants, unlike diapers, typically come pre-assembled in a wearconfiguration to more closely resemble conventional underpants. Inparticular, front and back waist regions of such training pants aretypically attached either permanently or refastenably (such as by aprimary fastening system) to define a wear configuration of the pantshaving a waist opening and leg openings.

For such articles where the attachment is refastenable, such as diapersand training pants, pop-opens (separation of the fasteners) cansometimes occur as a result of stresses placed on the attachment bymovement of the wearer. For training pants, when a refastenablearrangement is used, the pants may be removed without unfastening,thereby also leaving no fasteners for use in holding the pants compactfor disposal. Also, because the fastening components are not visiblewhen the pants are worn there is no positive visual awareness providedto the consumer of such refastenability. Where a permanent attachment isused in such training pants, no fastening system is available forretaining the pants in a compact disposal configuration.

The fastening tabs provided on diapers are relatively small in thelongitudinal direction of the diapers. Rather, they are typically muchlonger in the transverse direction because they are used for pulling theback of the diaper around the wearer and fastening to the front of thediaper. The sides of the diaper are relatively short in length (e.g.,from waist opening to leg opening) so control of the sides of the diaperis simple using the small (in the longitudinal direction) fastening tabsprovided on diapers. The sides of training pants, however, are typicallymuch longer from the waist opening to the leg openings and thereforemore difficult to manipulate with a tab as small as those used ondiapers.

In addition, the sides of the training pants (e.g., side panels), asmentioned above, are often constructed to be highly flexible to allowfreedom of motion of the wearer while maintaining a comfortable fit.However, such flexibility renders the sides of the training pants moredifficult to manually manipulate (for refastening alignment, disposal,etc.).

There is a need, therefore, for a disposal fastening system provided onan absorbent article such as training pants for improved resistance topop-opens, and for securing the article in a compact disposalconfiguration while providing a sufficient visual awareness to theconsumer of the presence of such a fastening system and sufficientoperability and use of such a fastening system.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an absorbent article for personal wear about a wearer'swaist generally comprises a central absorbent assembly comprising aliquid permeable inner layer for facing the wearer, an outer layer forfacing away from the wearer, an absorbent body disposed therebetween, afront waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region extendinglongitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waistregions. A pair of transversely spaced front side panels extendstransversely outward from the front waist region. A pair of transverselyspaced back side panels extends transversely outward from the back waistregion. The back side panels is attached to the front side panels todefine a wear configuration of the absorbent article having a waistopening, a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening, andtransversely opposite sides defined by the front and back side panelsand having a length extending from the waist opening to the respectiveleg opening. The article further comprises a pair of tabs, separate fromthe attachment between the front and back side panels. Each tab has anattachment region attached to one of the front side panels and the backside panels, and a tab region extending transversely outward from theattachment region and being releasably attachable to the other one ofthe front side panels and the back side panels. The one of the frontside panels and the back side panels to which the attachment region ofthe tab is attached has a first stiffness and at least a portion of thetab region of the tab has a second stiffness greater than the firststiffness.

In yet another aspect, an absorbent article for personal wear about awearer's waist generally comprises a liquid permeable bodyside liner forfacing the wearer, an outer cover for facing away from the wearer, andan absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover. Thearticle also comprises a front waist region, a back waist region and acrotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting thefront and back waist regions. A pair of laterally opposite front sidepanels extends outward from the front waist region. A pair of laterallyopposite back side panels extends outward from the back waist region.The back side panels and front side panels cooperatively definerespective sides of the article. The sides of the article have astiffness. A primary fastening system for releasably attaching the sidepanels extend outward from the front waist region to respective sidepanels extending outward from the back waist region. A secondaryfastening system comprises a tab attached to one side of the article andbeing at least in part separate from the primary fastening system. Thetab has a fastener region selectively attachable to the article. The tabhas a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the side of thearticle.

In yet another aspect, an absorbent article for personal wear about awearer's waist generally comprises a liquid permeable bodyside liner forfacing the wearer and having a stiffness, and an outer cover for facingaway from the wearer and having a stiffness. An absorbent body isdisposed between the liner and the outer cover. A primary fasteningsystem secures the article in a wear configuration having a waistopening and a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening. Asecondary fastening system comprises a tab attached to the outer coverand being at least in part separate from the primary fastening system.The tab has a fastener region selectively attachable to the article. Thetab has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the outercover.

Other features of the invention will be in part apparent and in partpointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective of one embodiment of a personal weararticle in the form of a pair of training pants having a secondary ordisposal fastening system illustrated in a fastened condition thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective similar to FIG. 1 with a primary, orarticle fastening system of the training pants in an unfastenedcondition on one side of the training pants and the disposal fasteningsystem also in an unfastened condition;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the training pants of FIG. 1 in anunfastened, unfolded and laid flat condition, and showing the surface ofthe training pants that faces away from the wearer;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 3 showing the surface of thetraining pants that faces the wearer when worn and with portions cutaway to show underlying features;

FIG. 5 is a an enlarged fragmented view of the encircled area of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 a side perspective of a second embodiment of a personal weararticle in the form of a pair of training pants with a primary, orarticle fastening system of the training pants in a unfastened conditionon one side of the training pants and a secondary, or disposal fasteningsystem also in an unfastened condition on that same side of the trainingpants;

FIG. 7 a side perspective of a third embodiment of a personal weararticle in the form of a pair of training pants with a primary, orarticle fastening system of the training pants in a unfastened conditionon one side of the training pants and a secondary, or disposal fasteningsystem also in an unfastened condition on that same side of the trainingpants;

FIG. 8A is a schematic of the training pants of FIG. 1 in a partiallycompacted discard configuration;

FIG. 8B is a schematic of the training pants of FIG. 8A in a fullycompacted discard configuration with the disposal fastening system in afastened condition to secure the pants in the discard configuration;

FIG. 9 is a side perspective of a fourth embodiment of a personal weararticle in the form of a pair of training pants having a secondary ordisposal fastening system illustrated in a fastened condition thereof;and

FIG. 10 is a side perspective of a fifth embodiment of a personal weararticle in the form of a pair of training pants with a primary, orarticle fastening system of the training pants in an unfastenedcondition on one side of the training pants and a secondary, or disposalfastening system also in an unfastened condition on that same side ofthe training pants.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a personalwear absorbent article according to one embodiment is illustrated in theform of a pants-type article for wear about a wearer's waist, and moreparticularly in the form of children's toilet training pants, indicatedin its entirety by the reference numeral 20. The term absorbentgenerally refers to articles that may be placed against or in proximityto the body of the wearer to absorb and/or retain various liquid wastesdischarged from the body. The absorbent article may or may not bedisposable, which refers to articles that are intended to be discardedafter a limited period of use instead of being laundered or otherwiserestored for reuse. It is understood that the concepts described hereinare suitable for use with various other pants-type articles such asadult incontinence articles, as well as other articles intended forpersonal wear such as clothing, diapers, feminine hygiene products,medical garments, surgical pads and bandages, other personal care orhealth care garments, and the like without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

By way of illustration only, various materials and methods forconstructing the training pants 20 are disclosed in PCT PatentApplication WO 00/37009 published Jun. 29, 2000 by A. Fletcher et al;U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,464 issued Jul. 10, 1990 to Van Gompel et al.; andU.S. Pat. No. 5,766,389 issued Jun. 16, 1998 to Brandon et al., whichare incorporated herein by reference.

The pair of training pants 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 in a fullypre-assembled (i.e., as assembled during initial manufacture)configuration (broadly referred to herein as a wear configuration of thepants, i.e., absorbent article) and in FIG. 2 in a partially unfastenedcondition. The training pants 20 comprises a front waist region 22, aback waist region 24, a crotch region 26 extending longitudinallybetween and interconnecting the front and back waist regions along alongitudinal direction of the pants, an inner surface 28 configured forcontiguous relationship with the wearer, and an outer surface 30opposite the inner surface. With additional reference to FIGS. 3 and 4,the training pants 20 also has a pair of laterally opposite side edges36 and a pair of longitudinally opposite waist edges, respectivelydesignated front waist edge 38 and back waist edge 39. The front waistregion 22 is contiguous with the front waist edge 38, and the back waistregion 24 is contiguous with the back waist edge 39.

The illustrated pants 20 comprises a central absorbent assembly,generally indicated at 32, which when laid flat as in FIGS. 3 and 4 canbe rectangular or any other desired shape. A pair of laterally oppositefront side panels 34 extends outward from the absorbent assembly 32 atthe front waist region 22 (thereby forming transversely outer portionsof the front waist region, and more broadly in part forming transverselyopposite sides of the training pants). Laterally opposite back sidepanels 134 extend outward from the absorbent assembly 32 at the backwaist region 24 (thereby forming transversely outer portions of the backwaist region, and together with the front side panels 34 furtherdefining the sides of the pants).

The central absorbent assembly 32 of the illustrated embodimentcomprises an outer cover 40 and a bodyside liner 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2)connected to the outer cover in a superposed relation by suitable meanssuch as adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds or other conventionaltechniques. An absorbent structure 44 (FIG. 4) is disposed between theouter cover and the bodyside liner. A pair of containment flaps 46 (FIG.4) is secured to the bodyside liner 42 for inhibiting the lateral flowof body exudates. The central absorbent assembly 32 has opposite endswhich form portions of the front and back waist edges 38 and 39, andopposite side edges 47 which form portions of the side edges 36 of thetraining pants 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The absorbent assembly 32 and side panels 34, 134 may comprise two ormore separate elements, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or they may beintegrally formed. Integrally formed side panels 34, 134 and absorbentassembly 32 would comprise at least some common materials, such as thebodyside liner, flap composite, outer cover, other materials and/orcombinations thereof, and could define a one-piece elastic, stretchable,or nonstretchable pants 20. For further reference, arrows 48 and 49 inFIGS. 3 and 4 depict the orientation of a longitudinal axis and atransverse or lateral axis, respectively, of the training pants 20.

With the training pants 20 in the fastened condition as illustratedfully in FIG. 1 and partially in FIG. 2, the front and back side panels34, 134 are attached to each other by a primary, or article fasteningsystem 80 to define the pre-assembled three-dimensional wearconfiguration of the pants, having a waist opening 50 and a pair of legopenings 52. The front waist region 22 comprises the portion of thetraining pants 20 which, when worn, is positioned at least in part onthe front of the wearer while the back waist region 24 comprises theportion of the training pants which is positioned at least in part onthe back of the wearer. The crotch region 26 of the training pants 20comprises the portion of the training pants 20 which is positionedbetween the legs of the wearer and covers the lower torso of the wearer.

The front and back side panels 34 and 134 comprise the portions of thetraining pants 20 (and more particularly of the front and back waistregions 22, 24) which, when worn, are positioned on the hips of thewearer. The attached side panels 34, 134 thus broadly define thetransversely opposite sides of the pants 20, with each side extending alength Lp (FIG. 5) from the waist opening 50 to the respective legopening 52 at an engagement seam 66 along which the fastening system 80releasably attaches the front and back side panels. The waist edges 38and 39 of the training pants 20 are configured to encircle the waist ofthe wearer and together define the waist opening 50 (FIG. 1). Portionsof the side edges 36 in the crotch region 26 generally define the legopenings 52.

The central absorbent assembly 32 is configured to contain and/or absorbexudates discharged from the wearer. For example, the containment flaps46 are configured to provide a barrier to the transverse flow of bodyexudates. A flap elastic member 53 (FIG. 4) can be operatively joinedwith each containment flap 46 in any suitable manner as is well known inthe art. The elasticized containment flaps 46 define a partiallyunattached edge which assumes an upright configuration in at least thecrotch region 26 of the training pants 20 to form a seal against thewearer's body. The containment flaps 46 can be located along the sideedges 36 of the pants 20, and can extend longitudinally along the entirelength of the absorbent assembly 32 or may only extend partially alongthe length of the absorbent assembly. Suitable constructions andarrangements for the containment flaps 46 are generally well known tothose skilled in the art and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,116issued Nov. 3, 1987 to Enloe, which is incorporated herein by reference.

To further enhance containment and/or absorption of body exudates, thetraining pants 20 also suitably includes a front waist elastic member 54(FIG. 4), a rear waist elastic member 56, and leg elastic members 58, asare known to those skilled in the art. The waist elastic members 54 and56 can be attached to the outer cover 40 and/or the bodyside liner 42along the opposite waist edges 38 and 39, and can extend over part orall of the waist edges. The leg elastic members 58 can be attached tothe outer cover 40 and/or the bodyside liner 42 along the opposite sideedges 36 and positioned in the crotch region 26 of the training pants20. The leg elastic members 58 can be longitudinally aligned along eachside edge 47 of the absorbent assembly 32.

The flap elastic members 53, the waist elastic members 54 and 56, andthe leg elastic members 58 can be formed of any suitable elasticmaterial. As is well known to those skilled in the art, suitable elasticmaterials include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber,synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric polymers. The elasticmaterials can be stretched and adhered to a substrate, adhered to agathered substrate, or adhered to a substrate and then elasticized orshrunk, for example with the application of heat, such that elasticretractive forces are imparted to the substrate. In one particularembodiment, for example, the leg elastic members 58 comprise a pluralityof dry-spun coalesced multifilament spandex elastomeric threads soldunder the trade name LYCRA® and available from E.I. Du Pont de Nemoursand Company, Wilmington, Del., U.S.A.

The outer cover 40 suitably comprises a material which is substantiallyliquid impermeable. The outer cover 40 can be a single layer of liquidimpermeable material, but more suitably comprises a multi-layeredlaminate structure in which at least one of the layers is liquidimpermeable. For instance, the outer cover 40 can include a liquidpermeable outer layer and a liquid impermeable inner layer that aresuitably joined together by a laminate adhesive, ultrasonic bonds,thermal bonds, or the like. Suitable laminate adhesives can be appliedcontinuously or intermittently as beads, a spray, parallel swirls, orthe like. The liquid permeable outer layer can be any suitable materialand is desirably one that provides a generally cloth-like texture. Theouter layer may also be made of those materials of which the liquidpermeable bodyside liner 42 is made. While it is not a necessity for theouter layer to be liquid permeable, it is suitable that it provides arelatively cloth-like texture to the wearer.

The inner layer of the outer cover 40 can be both liquid and vaporimpermeable, or it may be liquid impermeable and vapor permeable. Theinner layer can be manufactured from a thin plastic film, although otherflexible liquid impermeable materials may also be used. The inner layer,or the liquid impermeable outer cover 40 when a single layer, preventswaste material from wetting articles, such as bed sheets and clothing,as well as the wearer and caregiver.

If the outer cover 40 is a single layer of material, it can be embossedand/or matte finished to provide a more cloth-like appearance. Asearlier mentioned, the liquid impermeable material can permit vapors toescape from the interior of the disposable absorbent article, whilestill preventing liquids from passing through the outer cover 40. Onesuitable “breathable” material is composed of a microporous polymer filmor a nonwoven fabric that has been coated or otherwise treated to imparta desired level of liquid impermeability.

It is also contemplated that the outer cover 40 may be stretchable, andmore suitably elastic. In particular, the outer cover 40 is suitablystretchable and more suitably elastic in at least the transverse, orcircumferential direction of the pants 20. In other embodiments theouter cover may be stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in both thetransverse and the longitudinal direction.

The liquid permeable bodyside liner 42 is illustrated as overlying theouter cover 40 and absorbent core 44, and may but need not have the samedimensions as the outer cover 40. The bodyside liner 42 is suitablycompliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the child's skin.Further, the bodyside liner 42 can be less hydrophilic than theabsorbent structure 44 to present a relatively dry surface to the wearerand permit liquid to readily penetrate through its thickness.Alternatively, the bodyside liner 42 can be more hydrophilic or can haveessentially the same affinity for moisture as the absorbent structure 44to present a relatively wet surface to the wearer to increase thesensation of being wet. This wet sensation can be useful as a trainingaid. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties can be varied across thelength, width and/or depth of the bodyside liner 42 and absorbentstructure 44 to achieve the desired wetness sensation or leakageperformance.

The bodyside liner 42 can be manufactured from a wide selection of webmaterials, such as synthetic fibers (for example, polyester orpolypropylene fibers), natural fibers (for example, wood or cottonfibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams,reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or the like. Various wovenand nonwoven fabrics can be used for the bodyside liner 42. For example,the bodyside liner can be composed of a meltblown or spunbonded web ofpolyolefin fibers. The bodyside liner can also be a bonded-carded webcomposed of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The bodyside liner can becomposed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobicmaterial can, optionally, be treated with a surfactant or otherwiseprocessed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity.The surfactant can be applied by any conventional means, such asspraying, printing, brush coating or the like. The surfactant can beapplied to the entire bodyside liner 42 or can be selectively applied toparticular sections of the bodyside liner, such as the medial sectionalong the longitudinal center line.

The bodyside liner 42 may also be stretchable, and more suitablyelastic. In particular, the bodyside liner 42 is suitably stretchableand more suitably elastic in at least the transverse 49, orcircumferential direction of the pants 20. In other embodiments thebodyside liner 42 may be stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in boththe transverse 49 and the longitudinal 48 directions.

As noted previously, the illustrated training pants 20 have front andback side panels 34 and 134 defining transversely opposite sides of thepants in the wear configuration of the pants. The side panels 34, 134can be permanently attached along seams 66 to the central absorbentassembly 32 in the respective front and back waist regions 22 and 24.More particularly, as seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front side panels34 can be permanently attached to and extend transversely outward beyondthe side edges 47 of the absorbent assembly 32 in the front waist region22, and the back side panels 134 can be permanently attached to andextend transversely outward beyond the side edges of the absorbentassembly in the back waist region 24. The side panels 34 and 134 may beattached to the absorbent assembly 32 using attachment means known tothose skilled in the art such as adhesive, thermal, pressure orultrasonic bonding. Alternatively, the side panels 34 and 134 can beformed as an integral portion of a component of the absorbent assembly32. For example, the side panels can comprise a generally wider portionof the outer cover 40, the bodyside liner 42, and/or another componentof the absorbent assembly 32.

The front and back side panels 34, 134 each have an outer edge 68 spacedlaterally from the seam 66, a leg end edge 70 disposed toward thelongitudinal center of the training pants 20, and a waist end edge 72disposed toward a longitudinal end of the training pants. The leg endedge 70 and waist end edge 72 extend from the side edges 47 of theabsorbent assembly 32 to the outer edges 68. The leg end edges 70 of theside panels 34 and 134 form part of the side edges 36 of the trainingpants 20. The leg end edges 70 of the illustrated embodiment aresuitably curved and/or angled relative to the transverse axis 49 toprovide a better fit around the wearer's legs. However, it is understoodthat only one of the leg end edges 70 may be curved or angled, such asthe leg end edge of the back waist region 24, or neither of the leg endedges may be curved or angled, without departing from the scope of thisinvention. The waist end edges 72 are suitably parallel to thetransverse axis 49. The waist end edges 72 of the front side panels 34form part of the front waist edge 38 of the training pants 20, and thewaist end edges 72 of the back side panels 134 form part of the backwaist edge 39 of the pants.

The side panels 34, 134 suitably, although not necessarily, comprise astretchable material capable of stretching in a direction generallyparallel to the transverse axis 49 of the training pants 20. Moresuitably the side panels 34, 134 comprise an elastic material. Suitableelastic materials, as well as one process of incorporating stretchableside panels into training pants, are described in the following U.S.Pat. No. 4,940,464 issued Jul. 10, 1990 to Van Gompel et al.; U.S. Pat.No. 5,224,405 issued Jul. 6, 1993 to Pohjola; U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,116issued Apr. 14, 1992 to Pohjola; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,272 issued Sep.10, 1991 to Vogt et al.; all of which are incorporated herein byreference. In particular embodiments, the stretch material may comprisea stretch-thermal laminate (STL), a neck-bonded laminate (NBL), areversibly necked laminate, or a stretch-bonded laminate (SBL) material.Methods of making such materials are well known to those skilled in theart and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,220 issued May 5, 1987 toWisneski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,992 issued Jul. 13, 1993 to Morman;European Patent Application No. EP 0 217 032 published on Apr. 8, 1987in the name of Taylor et al.; and PCT application WO 01/88245 in thename of Welch et al.; all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In one particularly suitable embodiment at least the front side panels34 and more suitably both the front and back side panels 34, 134comprise a vertical filament laminate (VFL) material. A VFL is acomposite material having at least one gatherable layer such as anon-woven material and at least one elastic layer. The layers are joinedtogether when the elastic layer is extended from its original conditionso that upon relaxing the layers, the gatherable layer is gathered. Thecomposite may be stretched to the extent that the non-elastic materialgathered between the bond locations allows the elastic material toelongate. One type of vertical filament laminate is disclosed, forexample, by U.S. Pat. No. 6,916,750 to Thomas et al., the content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Moresuitably, the front and back side panels comprise a VFL in which twonon-woven (gatherable) layers sandwich an elastic layer so that bothfaces of the VFL are gatherable. The rugosities formed in the gatherablelayers of such a VFL material allow the VFL material to be used as aloop component of a fastening system.

Alternatively, the side panel material may comprise other woven ornonwoven materials, such as those described above as being suitable forthe outer cover 40 or bodyside liner 42; mechanically pre-strainedcomposites; or stretchable but inelastic materials.

The absorbent structure 44 can be any structure which is generallycompressible, conformable, non-irritating to the wearer's skin andcapable of absorbing and retaining liquid body exudates, and may bemanufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and from a widevariety of absorbent materials commonly used in the art. For example,the absorbent structure 44 suitably comprises a matrix of absorbentfibers, and more particularly hydrophilic fibers, such as a web ofcellulosic fluff. In a particularly suitable embodiment, the absorbentstructure 44 comprises a matrix of cellulosic fluff, such as wood pulpfluff, and superabsorbent particles. The wood pulp fluff can beexchanged with synthetic, polymeric, meltblown fibers or short cuthomofil bicomponent synthetic fibers and natural fibers. Thesuperabsorbent particles can be substantially homogeneously mixed withthe hydrophilic fibers or can be nonuniformly mixed. The fluff andsuperabsorbent particles can also be selectively placed into desiredzones of the absorbent structure 44 to better contain and absorb bodyexudates. The concentration of the superabsorbent particles can alsovary through the thickness of the absorbent core 44. Alternatively, theabsorbent structure 44 can comprise a laminate of fibrous webs andsuperabsorbent material or other suitable means of maintaining asuperabsorbent material in a localized area.

Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural,synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. Thesuperabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silicagels, or organic compounds, such as crosslinked polymers, for example,sodium neutralized polyacrylic acid. Suitable superabsorbent materialsare available from various commercial vendors, such as Dow ChemicalCompany located in Midland, Mich., U.S.A., and Stockhausen GmbH & Co.KG, D-47805 Krefeld, Federal Republic of Germany.

In one embodiment, the absorbent structure 44 comprises a blend of woodpulp fluff and superabsorbent material. As a general rule, thesuperabsorbent material is present in the absorbent structure 44 in anamount of from 0 to about 90 weight percent based on total weight of theabsorbent assembly. The absorbent structure 44 suitably has a densitywithin the range of about 0.10 to about 0.35 grams per cubic centimeter.The absorbent structure 44 may or may not be wrapped or encompassed by asuitable tissue wrap that may help maintain the integrity and/or shapeof the absorbent assembly.

The article fastening system 80 comprises laterally opposite firstfastening components 82 adapted for refastenable engagement tocorresponding second fastening components 84. In one embodiment, a frontor outer surface of each of the fastening components 82, 84 comprises aplurality of engaging elements. The engaging elements of the firstfastening components 82 are adapted to repeatedly engage and disengagecorresponding engaging elements of the second fastening components 84 toreleasably secure the pants 20 in its three-dimensional configuration.

The fastening components 82, 84 can comprise any refastenable fastenerssuitable for absorbent articles, such as adhesive fasteners, cohesivefasteners, mechanical fasteners, or the like. In particular embodimentsthe fastening components 82, 84 comprise mechanical fastening componentsfor improved performance. Suitable mechanical fastening components canbe provided by interlocking geometric shaped materials, such as hooks,loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, male and femalemating components, buckles, snaps, or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first fastening components 82 (i.e.,one on each side of the training pants 20) comprise loop fasteners andthe second fastening components 84 comprise complementary hookfasteners. Alternatively, the first fastening components 82 may comprisehook fasteners and the second fastening components 84 may comprisecomplementary loop fasteners. In another embodiment, the fasteningcomponents 82, 84 can comprise interlocking similar surface fasteners,or adhesive and cohesive fastening elements such as an adhesive fastenerand an adhesive-receptive landing zone or material; or the like.Although the training pants 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 show the back sidepanels 134 overlapping the front side panels 34 upon connection thereto,which is convenient, the training pants 20 can also be configured sothat the front side panels overlap the back side panels when connected.One skilled in the art will recognize that the shape, density andpolymer composition of the hooks and loops may be selected to obtain thedesired level of engagement between the fastening components 82, 84. Amore aggressive hook material may comprise a material with a greateraverage hook height and/or a greater percentage of directionally-alignedhooks. When engaged, the fastening components 82, 84 of the illustratedembodiment define the refastenable engagement seams 66 (FIG. 2).

As discussed above, in one particularly suitable embodiment, as bestseen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the back side panels 134 are constructed so thatthe inner surfaces of the respective back side panels define loopfastening components 82 (i.e., the back side panels 134 and fasteningcomponents 82 are formed integrally). It is understood, however, thatthe loop fastening components 82 may be formed separate from the backside panels 134 and attached thereto, such as by adhesive, thermalbonds, ultrasonic bonds, pressure bonds or other suitable techniqueswithout departing from the scope of this invention.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a secondary, or disposalfastening system, generally indicated at 200, is provided for use ininhibiting pop-opens during wear and for securing the training pants 20in a compact disposal configuration (FIG. 8B) described in furtherdetail later herein. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the disposalfastening system comprises a tab 202 attached to each of the back sidepanels 134 (broadly, to the transversely opposite sides of the trainingpants 20) and extending in part transversely outward of the respectiveback side panels for opposed relationship with the corresponding frontside panels in the wear configuration of the pants. As seen best in FIG.5, each tab 202 comprises an attachment region 204 at which the tab isattached to the respective back side panel 134, and a tab region 206extending transversely outward from the attachment region. Moresuitably, the tab region 206 of the tab 202 comprises at least onefastener region 208 having a fastening component 212 for use in securingthe pants in their compact disposal configuration, and may furthercomprise a grip region 210 transversely outward of the fastener regionfor use in manually gripping and manipulating the tab relative to thepants 20.

The fastening component 212 of the illustrated fastener region 208comprises a hook fastener. The outer surface of each front side panel 34suitably defines a corresponding fastening component, e.g., a loopfastener, to permit the tab 202 on each side of the pants 20 to beattached at its fastener region to the respective front side panel(i.e., broadly, to the pants) in the wear configuration of the pants.For example, the front side panel 34 in one particularly suitableembodiment may be constructed of VFL material as described previously sothat the outer surface of the front side panel itself defines a loopfastening component. Alternatively, a loop fastener component (notshown) may be formed separate from the front side panel 34 and attachedto the panel outer surface without departing from the scope of thisinvention. The outer facing surface 30 of the outer cover 40 of thepants 20 is also suitably constructed to define a loop fastener, such asby forming the outer cover of a material that defines a loop fasteningcomponent (e.g., VFL or other suitable material) or by forming aseparate loop fastening component and attaching it to the outer surfaceof the pants outer cover, to permit attachment of the tab 202 to theouter cover in the disposal configuration of the pants.

It is understood that the fastening component(s) 212 defining the one ormore fastener regions 208 of the tab 202 may instead be a loop fastenercomponent, with the outer surfaces of the front side panels 34 and outercover 40 of the pants 20 being constructed to define corresponding hookfastening components. In other embodiments, the fastening component 212defining the tab fastener region(s) 208 and the outer surfaces of thefront side panels 34 and pants outer cover 40 may comprise othersuitable releasably attachable fasteners without departing from thescope of this invention. It is also contemplated that the fasteningcomponent 212 defining the tab fastener region 208 may be releasablyattachable to the pants 20 (e.g., to the front side panel 34) in thewear configuration but otherwise more permanently attachable elsewhereon the pants (e.g., to the outer cover 40) in the disposal configurationof the pants. The term permanent attachment is intended herein to referto an attachment that is generally not releasable without some damage orsubstantially reduced ability to reattach to the fastening componentand/or the component to which the fastening component is attached.

Also, in the illustrated embodiment the tabs 202 attach to the outersurfaces of the front side panels 34 (e.g., outer surface 30 of pants20) in the wear configuration of the article. But it is contemplatedthat in the wear configuration the tabs 202 may be configured to attachto the inner surfaces of the front side panels 34 (e.g., inner surface28 of pants 20) and remain within the scope of this invention.

The attachment region 204 of each tab 202 is suitably attached to therespective back side panel 134 (broadly, to the respective side of thepants 20) and in the illustrated embodiment is attached to the innersurface of the back side panel. It is understood, however, that theattachment region 204 may instead be attached to the outer surface ofthe back side panel 134 in a manner similar to that illustrated in thealternative embodiment of FIG. 7. The attachment region 204, in theillustrated embodiment in which the back side panel 134 overlaps thefront side panel 34, is more suitably attached to the back side paneladjacent the transverse edge of the back side panel. But the attachmentregion 204 may instead be attached to the back side panel 134 moretransversely distal from the transverse edge of the back side panel,such as when the front side panel 34 overlaps the back side panel,without departing from the scope of this invention.

In one embodiment, the sides of the pants, i.e., extending from thewaist opening 50 to the respective leg openings 52 (and moreparticularly, in the illustrated embodiment where the front and backside panels 34, 134 are attached to define the engagement seam 66therebetween) has a length Lp extending from the waist opening of thepants to the leg opening thereof of at least about 50 mm, more suitablyat least about 75 mm, more suitably at least about 90 mm, still moresuitably at least about 110 mm and even more suitably at least about 125mm for a children's training pants. It is understood that for pants-likearticles sized for adults, such as adult incontinence garments, thelength Lp of the sides of the pants, such as at the engagement seam 66between the front and back side panels 34, 134, may be greater than asset forth above, such as up to about 300 mm or more and remain withinthe scope of this invention.

The attachment region 204 of each tab 202 suitably has a greatest lengthLa (FIG. 5) in the range of about 35 percent to 100 percent of thelength Lp of the side of the pants 20 at the engagement seam 66, andmore suitably in the range of about 45 percent to 100 percent thereof.Even more suitably, the greatest length La of the tab attachment region204 is at least about 50 percent of the length Lp of the side of thepants 20 at the engagement seam 66, such as in the range of about 50percent to 100 percent, and still more suitably the greatest length Lais about 60 percent of the length Lp of the side of the pants at theengagement seam. In one particular embodiment, the greatest length La ofthe tab attachment region 204 is 100 percent of the length Lp of theside of the pants 20 at the engagement seam. The term greatest length(or width) as used herein in reference to various component dimensionsis intended to refer to a greatest extent or reach of a component alonga prescribed direction, recognizing that the various components hereinmay not be of a uniform (e.g., square or rectangular) shape, and is notintended to define any design limitations or upper limits on the sizeand shape of the component. It is understood, for example, that theattachment region 204 of the tab 202 need not be of uniform length toremain within the scope of this invention.

The attachment region 204 of each tab 202 is suitably attached to theinner surface of the back side panel 134, such as by adhesive, thermalbonding, ultrasonic bonding, pressure bonding or other suitableattachment technique. More suitably, an attachment face 214 (FIG. 3) ofeach tab 202 is attached to the inner surface of the back side panel 134at the attachment region 204 of the tab. The tab region 206 of each tab202 extends transversely outward of the attachment region 204 intooverlapping or opposed relationship with the outer surface of thecorresponding front side panel 34 so that the tab region is accessibleexterior of the pants 20 in the wear configuration of the pants. It isunderstood, however, that the tab region 206 may instead be in opposedrelationship with and releasably attachable to the inner surface of thefront side panel 34 without departing from the scope of this invention.

In one exemplary embodiment, the engagement seam 66 along which thefront and back side panels 34, 134 (and more broadly, the front and backwaist regions 22, 24) are releasably attached by the article fasteningsystem 80 has a greatest length Lr (FIG. 2, which in the illustratedembodiment is defined by the greatest length of the hook fasteningcomponent 84 of the fastening system 80). The length Lr of theengagement seam 66 may be equal to the length Lp of the side of thepants 20 (i.e., extending from the waist opening 50 to the leg opening52), slightly less than the length Lp of the side of the pants as in theillustrated embodiment, or considerably less than the length Lp of theside of the pants.

Each tab 202 and more particularly the attachment region 204 thereof issuitably sized in length relative to the length Lr of the engagementseam 66 so that the greatest length La of the attachment region of thetab is in the range of about 35 to about 95 percent of the greatestlength Lr of the engagement seam and more suitably about 50 to about 80percent. It is understood, however, that the greatest length La of theattachment region 204 may be other than as set forth above withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention. For example, in particularembodiments, the greatest length La of the attachment region can beequal to, or even greater than, the greatest length Lr of the engagementseam.

Additionally, the engagement seam 66 along which the front and back sidepanels 34, 134 are releasably attached by the article fastening system80 has a greatest width Wr (FIG. 4), which in the illustrated embodimentis defined by the greatest width of the hook fastening component 84 ofthe fastening system 80. The attachment region 204 has a greatest widthWa which can be equal to, less than, or greater than the greatest widthWr of the engagement seam 66. Similarly, the attachment region 204 has agreatest width Wa which can be equal to, less than, or greater than thegreatest width of the fastening component 84.

The tab region 206 of each tab 202, i.e., the portion of the tab thatextends transversely outward from the attachment region 204 (and in theillustrated embodiment comprises the fastener region 208 and grip region210 of the tab), suitably extends transversely outward from theattachment region a greatest distance Dt of about 5 mm to about 20 mm.The tab region 206 of each tab 202 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is generallyrounded and has a single peak defining the greatest transverse distanceDt of the tab region outward from the attachment region 204 of the tab.It is understood, however, that the tab region 206 may be shaped otherthan as illustrated without departing from the scope of this invention.For example, in the alternative embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 a tab 502,702 (respectively) is illustrated as having a dual peak configurationwith each peak defining the greatest distance Dt of the tab regionoutward from the attachment region.

In another embodiment the greatest distance Dt that the tab region 206extends transversely outward from the attachment region 204 is in therange of about 5 to about 30 percent of the greatest length La of theattachment region of the tab 202, and more suitably in the range ofabout 10 to about 20 percent thereof.

In the various embodiments herein, the tab region 206 of each tab 202 issuitably positioned generally centrally along the length Lp of the sideof the pants 20 (e.g., between the waist opening 50 and respective legopening 52), and in particular at the engagement seam 66 between thefront and back side panels 34, 134. More suitably, the tab region 206has a transversely extending centerline C and this centerline isdisposed within about 20 percent of the midpoint along the length Lp ofthe side of the pants 20, and in particular at the engagement seam 66,and even more suitably within about 10 percent of the length Lp at theengagement seam 66.

The tab region 206 also has a greatest length Lt, such as where the tabregion attaches to (or in the illustrated embodiment is integral with)the attachment region 204 of the tab 202. This greatest length Lt of thetab region 206 is suitably in the range of about 10 to about 70 percentof the length Lp of the side of the pants 20, and in particular at theengagement seam 66, and more suitably in the range of about 25 to about45 percent. While in the illustrated embodiment the greatest length Ltof the tab region 206 is less than the greatest length La of theattachment region 204, it is contemplated that the tab region greatestlength Lt may be substantially equal to and may even be greater than thegreatest length La of the tab attachment region 204.

With reference to FIG. 5, the fastener region 208 of each tab 202suitably extends lengthwise of the tab, within the tab region 206thereof, to the edges of the tab at the tab region. It is understood,however, that the fastener region 208 need not extend the full length ofthe tab 202 at the tab region 206 to remain within the scope of thisinvention.

When the tab 202 includes a grip region 210, such as in the illustratedembodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the tab is suitably constructed so that thegrip region is non-attachable to the pants (i.e., the absorbent article)at least in the wear configuration of the pants. The term non-attachableas used in this instance means that the grip region 210 is notreleasably or otherwise removably attachable to the pants in the wearconfiguration thereof, nor is the grip region permanently attached tothe pants. In one embodiment, the grip region 210 extends transverselyoutward from the fastener region 208 of each tab 202 a distance of atleast about 1 mm, such as in the range of about 1 mm to about 10 mm toprovide sufficient unattached material of the tab for readily grippingand pulling on the tab.

In one embodiment, each tab 202 is suitably constructed of a basesubstrate 216 having a fastening component 212 (e.g., a hook fasteningcomponent in the illustrated embodiment) attached thereto such as byadhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, pressure bondingor other suitable technique to define the fastener region 208 of thetab. In certain embodiments, the base substrate 216 may be constructedsuch that, other than the fastener region 208, the tab is not releasablyattachable to the pants 20, particularly at the grip region 210 (ifprovided) of the tab. In one particularly suitable embodiment, the basesubstrate 216 is less stretchable (at least in the transverse directionthereof) than the pants 20 (in the transverse, or circumferentialdirection thereof) and more suitably the base substrate isnon-stretchable so that pulling on the tab transversely of pants 20 tosecure the pants in their disposal configuration, the pants (and inparticular the back side panels 134) are allowed to stretch. As anexample, one suitable material from which the base substrate 216 may beconstructed is a three-layer nonwoven polypropylene material known asSMS. SMS is an acronym for Spunbond, Meltblown, Spunbond, the process bywhich the three layers are constructed and then laminated together. Oneexample of an SMS material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,203 toBrock et al. It should be noted, however, that other nonwovens as wellas other materials including wovens, films, foam/film laminates andcombinations thereof may be used to construct the tab 202 withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention.

In particular embodiments, the base substrate 216 is constructed of amaterial that is releasably attachable with the fastener component 84 ofthe primary fastening system 80. For example, in particular embodiments,the base substrate 216 is formed from a material such as acrylic,polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester, and is formed intoa “loop”-type material by methods such as warp knitting, stitch bondingor needle punching. The base substrate 216 can comprise any fibrousstructure capable of entangling or catching hook materials, such ascarded, spunbonded or other nonwoven webs or composites, includingelastomeric and nonelastomeric composites. One material suitable for useas a base substrate 216 is available from Guilford Mills, Inc.,Greensboro, N.C., U.S.A. under the trade designation No. 36549. Anothersuitable base substrate material comprises a pattern un-bonded web asdisclosed in co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,515 issued Jan. 12, 1999 toStokes, et al., which is incorporated herein by reference to the extentconsistent herewith. In particular embodiments, the base substrate 216can include a “loop”-type material as just discussed but that isattached to a backing structure, and the composite is then attached tothe article 20, such as along the side edges of the front or back sidepanels 34, 134.

As previously discussed, in particular embodiments each of thetransversely opposite sides of the article comprise a material (such as,for example, a nonwoven material) that is releasably engageable with thehook material of the primary fastening system. When the article isfastened in the wear configuration, it is possible in certainembodiments that the hook material of the primary fastening systemsimultaneously engages both the disposal-tab base substrate and an outerfacing of the transversely opposite sides of the article (such as, forexample, the outermost nonwoven facing of an elastomeric nonwovenlaminate). For example, if the greatest length La of the attachmentregion of the tab is less than the greatest length Lr of the engagementseam, it is probable that the refastenable seam 66 will be formed notonly by engagement of the hook component 84 to the base substrate 216,but also by engagement of the hook component 84 to portions of the outerfacing of the side panel 134 that extend beyond the longitudinal ends ofthe attachment region 204 of the tab 202, as representativelyillustrated in FIG. 1.

Similarly, if the greatest width Wa of the attachment region of the tabis less than the greatest width Wr of the engagement seam, it isprobable that the refastenable seam 66 will be formed not only byengagement of the hook component 84 to the base substrate 216, but alsoby engagement of the hook component 84 to portions of the outer facingof the side panel 134 that extend transversely inward of thelongitudinal side edge of the attachment region 204 of the tab 202, asrepresentatively illustrated in FIG. 1. However, it is not necessarythat the hook material 84 of the primary fastening system 80simultaneously engage both the disposal-tab base substrate 216 and thetransversely opposite sides of the article. For example, if the greatestlength La of the attachment region of the tab is greater than thegreatest length Lr of the engagement seam, and/or if the greatest widthWa of the attachment region of the tab is greater than that the greatestwidth Wr of the engagement seam, the refastenable seam 66 may be formedsolely by engagement of the hook component 84 to the base substrate 216.

In one particularly suitable embodiment, at least the tab region 206 ofthe tab 202 and more suitably the entire tab has a stiffness that isgreater than a stiffness of the components of the pants 20 to which thetab is attached, e.g., the side panels 34, 134, the outer cover 40, orthe bodyside liner 42. For example, the stiffness of the tab 202 is atleast about 10 milligrams greater than the stiffness of the side panels34, 134, the outer cover 40, and/or the bodyside liner 42. In onesuitable embodiment, the tab 202 has a stiffness in the range of about10 milligrams to about 10,000 milligrams and more suitably between about10 milligrams and about 2,000 milligrams.

As used herein, stiffness is the resistance of a body to deflection ordeformation (e.g., bending) when acted on by an applied force. Thestiffness of the tab 202 and the other components of the pants 20 (e.g.,the side panels 34, 134, the outer cover 40, and the body side liner 42)can be determined with respect to a bending moment produced by a forcethat is directed perpendicular to the plane substantially defined by thelength and width of the component being tested. One suitable techniquefor determining the stiffness values described herein is a GurleyStiffness test, a description of which is set forth in TAPPI StandardTest T 543 om-94 (Bending Resistance of Paper (Gurley type tester)). Asuitable testing apparatus is a Gurley Digital Stiffness Tester; Model4171-D manufactured by Teledyne Gurley, a business having offices inTroy, N.Y. For purposes of the present description, the stated stiffnessvalues are intended to correspond to the values that would be generatedby a “standard” sized sample using the Gurley stiffness tester.Accordingly, the scale readings from the Gurley stiffness tester areappropriately converted to the stiffness of a standard size sample, andare traditionally reported in terms of milligrams of force (mgf).Currently, a standard “Gurley unit” is equal to a stiffness value of 1mgf, and may equivalently be employed to report the Gurley stiffness.

As a result of the increased stiffness as compared to the othercomponents of the pants 20 (e.g., the side panels 34, 134, the outercover 40, and the body side liner 42), the tab 202 and specifically thegrip region 210 thereof provides an area that is easy for a user tograsp. Thus, the tab 202 facilitates easy manipulation of the pants 20between its various configurations. A user of the pants 20 can disengagethe fastener region 208 of the tab 202 from the front side panel 34using one-hand. The user can grasp the relatively stiff grip region 210of the tab 202 between their thumb and forefinger and pull tab 202including the fastener region 208 away from the front side panel 34 tothereby disengage the tab from the front side panel.

In addition, the greater stiffness of the tab 202 results in increasedattachment between the fastening region 208 of the tab and therespective front side panel 34 as compared to the engagement seams 66,which are formed between components having a lower stiffness. Theincreased stiffness of the tab 202 inhibits bending, folding, etc. of atleast the fastener region 208 thereof relative to the front side panel34 to which it is attached thereby reducing the potential for pop-opens.

When the pants 20 are donned by the wearer, the tabs 202 are disposednear the hips or slightly inward of the hips of the wearer so that therelatively stiff tabs do not compromise the comfort of the pants. Thatis, the tabs 202 are located such that the wearer can freely bend andotherwise move without any significant impediment by the tabs.

The thickness and the basis weight of the base substrate 216 maygenerally vary. For example, the basis weight of the base substrate 216may be in the range of about 20 grams per square meter (“gsm”) to about160 gsm and, in some embodiments, from about 20 gsm to about 80 gsm. Inone particularly suitable embodiment, the basis weight of the basesubstrate 216 is about 60 gsm. The thickness of the base substrate 216may suitable be in the range of about 0.165 inches (4.2 millimeters(mm)) to about 0.190 inches (4.8 mm), in some embodiments from about0.170 inches (4.3 mm) to about 0.185 inches (4.7 mm), and in otherembodiments, from about 0.175 inches (4.45 mm) to about 0.180 inches(4.6 mm). The thickness can be measured on an Ames model 482 Comparatorusing an Ames model 130 base with an auxiliary weight to provide 0.25psi.

In use, the training pants 20 are constructed and pre-assembled in theirwear configuration, with the article fastening system 80 releasablyattaching the front and back waist regions 22, 24 (and more particularlythe front and back side panels 34, 134 in the illustrated embodiment).The fastener region 208 of each tab 202 is releasably attached to theouter surface of the respective front side panel 34 to releasably attachthe tab region 206 of each tab to the pants 20 in the wear configurationof the pants.

When the pants 20 are to be discarded after use, the pants may beslipped off of the wearer in the manner of conventional underpants, orthe front and back waist regions 22, 24 may be detached from each other(e.g., by separation of the fastening components 82, 84 of the articlefastening system 80) and the pants removed from the wearer. Where thefront and back waist regions 22, 24 are separated to remove the pants,the fastener regions 208 of the tabs 202 must be detached from the frontwaist region (e.g., from the front side panels 34). To detach thefastener regions 208 of the tabs 202 illustrated in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4, the grip region 210 of each tab is gripped between the thumband forefinger and pulled away from the front side panel 34 until thefastener region breaks free from its attachment to the front side panel.The relatively stiff tab 202 provides an area of the pants 20 that iseasy for the user to grasp and manipulate the pants to break theattachment between the fastener component 212 of the tab and the frontside panel 34.

To dispose of the used pants 20, the pants are laid on a surface withthe back waist region 24 down against the surface and with the front andback waist regions 22, 24 in opposed relationship with each other. Thesides, and more particularly the front and back side panels 34, 134 inthe illustrated embodiment, suitably extend transversely outward inopposed relationship with each other. With reference to FIG. 8A, thecrotch region 26 and a portion of the back waist region 24 of the pants20 are then folded or rolled up over the front waist region 22 of thepants. If not already done, the tab regions 206 of the tabs 202 aregripped at the grip regions 210 thereof and are pulled away from thepants 20 to detach the tabs from the pants (i.e., from the front sidepanels 34 in the illustrated embodiment). While gripping the detachedtab regions 206 of the tabs 202, the tabs are pulled around the foldedor rolled portion of the pants 20 and then toward each other asindicated by the direction arrows in FIG. 8A.

Pulling on the tabs 202 in this manner pulls on and suitably stretchesthe stretchable back waist region 24 (and more particularly thestretchable back side panels 134 in the illustrated embodiment) so thatthe back waist region and more suitably the back side panelssubstantially surround the folded or rolled portion of the pants 20. Thefastener regions 208 of the tabs 202 are attached to the folded orrolled portion of the pants 20 (i.e., to the outer surface 30 of thepants) to thereby secure the pants in their compact disposalconfiguration as illustrated in FIG. 8B. Pulling on and stretching theback waist region 24 of the pants 20 to surround the folded or rolledportion also places in tension (e.g., due to the elasticity in theelastic back side panels 134) a substantial transverse orcircumferential segment of the circumscribing portion of the pants(e.g., the back waist region and more particularly the back side panelsin the illustrated embodiment) in the disposal configuration of thepants. This allows the pants 20 to be relatively compact in the disposalconfiguration and to be held generally tightly in this compactconfiguration to reduce the risk of leakage from the pants.

While in FIG. 8B the tabs 202 are brought into positions generallyadjacent each other to secure the pants 20 in the disposal configurationthereof, it is contemplated that one of the tabs may be pulled acrossthe longitudinal centerline of the pants and secured thereto (e.g., tothe outer surface 30 of the pants), and then the other tab pulled acrossthe longitudinal centerline over and beyond the one tab and secured tothe pants, such as the back side panel 134 to which the one tab isattached since it is of a VFL material, to provide a further compacteddisposal configuration of the pants.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an absorbent article forpersonal wear, also in the form of a pair of training pants 420, havingsecondary, or tabs 502 similar to the tabs 202 of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4 but with a tab region 506 configured to have a double peakarrangement. The fastener region 508 of each tab 502 of this embodimentextends transversely to the end of the tab region 506 so that a gripregion is omitted from the tab.

FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment of an absorbentarticle for personal wear, also in the form of a pair of training pants620, similar to that of FIG. 6 but with the tabs 702 having attachmentregions 704 attached to the outer surfaces of the back side panels 734(broadly, to the outer surface 730 of the back waist region 724) of thepants. The tab region 706 of each tab 702 of this embodiment isconfigured to have both a fastener region 708 and a grip region 710transversely outward of the attachment region 704.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an absorbent article forpersonal wear, also in the form of a pair of training pants 820, similarto that of FIG. 1 but with the tab regions 906 of the disposal tabs 902offset from the centerline of the attachment region. In this manner, forexample, the tab regions 906 are nearer to the waist opening 50 than tothe leg opening of the pants 52.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferredembodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising,” “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

1. An absorbent article for personal wear about a wearer's waist, saidarticle comprising: a central absorbent assembly comprising a liquidpermeable inner layer for facing the wearer, an outer layer for facingaway from the wearer, an absorbent body disposed therebetween, a frontwaist region, a back waist region and a crotch region extendinglongitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waistregions; a pair of transversely spaced front side panels extendingtransversely outward from the front waist region; a pair of transverselyspaced back side panels extending transversely outward from the backwaist region, the back side panels being attached to the front sidepanels to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article having awaist opening, a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening, andtransversely opposite sides defined by the front and back side panelsand having a length extending from the waist opening to the respectiveleg opening; and a pair of tabs, separate from the attachment betweenthe front and back side panels, each tab having an attachment regionattached to one of said front side panels and said back side panels, anda tab region extending transversely outward from the attachment regionand being releasably attachable to the other one of said front sidepanels and said back side panels, said one of the front side panels andsaid back side panels to which the attachment region of the tab isattached having a first stiffness, at least a portion of the tab regionof the tab having a second stiffness greater than said first stiffness.2. The absorbent article set forth in claim 1 wherein said secondstiffness of said portion of the tab region of the tab is at least about10 milligrams greater than said first stiffness of said one of the frontside panels and the back side panels to which the tab attachment regionis attached.
 3. The absorbent article set forth in claim 1 wherein saidsecond stiffness of said portion of the tab region of the tab is in therange of about 10 milligrams to about 10,000 milligrams greater thansaid first stiffness of said one of the front side panels and the backside panels to which the tab attachment region is attached.
 4. Theabsorbent article set forth in claim 1 wherein the other one of saidfront side panels and said back side panels, to which the tab region isreleasably attachable, has a stiffness, said second stiffness of saidportion of the tab region of the tab being greater than said stiffnessof said other one of said front side panels and said back side panels.5. The absorbent article set forth in claim 1 wherein the tab region isreleasably attachable to at least one of the inner layer and the outerlayer of the central absorbent assembly, said at least one of the innerlayer and the outer layer having a stiffness, said second stiffness ofsaid portion of the tab region of the tab being greater than saidstiffness of said at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer ofthe central absorbent assembly.
 6. The absorbent article set forth inclaim 1 further comprising an outer cover having a stiffness, saidsecond stiffness of said portion of the tab region of the tab beinggreater than said stiffness of the outer cover.
 7. The absorbent articleset forth in claim 1 further comprising an inner liner having astiffness, said second stiffness of said portion of the tab region ofthe tab being greater than said stiffness of the inner liner.
 8. Theabsorbent article set forth in claim 1 wherein said second stiffness ofsaid portion of the tab region of the tab has a stiffness value betweenabout 10 milligrams and about 10,000 milligrams.
 9. The absorbentarticle set forth in claim 8 wherein said second stiffness of saidportion of the tab region of the tab has a stiffness value between about10 milligrams and about 2,000 milligrams.
 10. An absorbent article forpersonal wear about a wearer's waist, said article comprising: a liquidpermeable bodyside liner for facing the wearer; an outer cover forfacing away from the wearer; an absorbent body disposed between theliner and the outer cover; a front waist region, a back waist region anda crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting thefront and back waist regions; a pair of laterally opposite front sidepanels extending outward from the front waist region; a pair oflaterally opposite back side panels extending outward from the backwaist region, the back side panels and front side panels cooperativelydefining respective sides of the article, the sides of the articlehaving a stiffness; a primary fastening system for releasably attachingthe side panels extending outward from the front waist region torespective side panels extending outward from the back waist region; anda secondary fastening system comprising a tab attached to one side ofthe article and being at least in part separate from the primaryfastening system, the tab having a fastener region selectivelyattachable to the article, the tab having a stiffness that is greaterthan the stiffness of said side of the article.
 11. The absorbentarticle set forth in claim 10 wherein the tab comprises a fastenerregion configured for releasable attachment to the article and a gripregion being generally non-attachable to the article at least in thewear configuration thereof for use in gripping the tab region of thetab.
 12. The absorbent article set forth in claim 11 wherein thefastener region of the tab is releasable attachable to one of the frontside panels and the back side panels.
 13. The absorbent article setforth in claim 10 wherein the stiffness of the tab is at least 10milligrams greater than the stiffness of the sides of the article. 14.The absorbent article set forth in claim 10 wherein the tab has astiffness value between about 10 milligrams and about 10,000 milligrams.15. The absorbent article set forth in claim 14 wherein the tab has astiffness value between about 10 milligrams and about 2,000 milligrams.16. An absorbent article for personal wear about a wearer's waist, saidarticle comprising: a liquid permeable bodyside liner for facing thewearer and having a stiffness; an outer cover for facing away from thewearer and having a stiffness; an absorbent body disposed between theliner and the outer cover; a primary fastening system for securing thearticle in a wear configuration having a waist opening and a pair of legopenings spaced from the waist opening; and a secondary fastening systemcomprising a tab attached to the outer cover and being at least in partseparate from the primary fastening system, the tab having a fastenerregion selectively attachable to the article, the tab having a stiffnessthat is greater than the stiffness of the outer cover.
 17. The absorbentarticle set forth in claim 16 wherein the stiffness of the tab isgreater than the stiffness of the bodyside liner.
 18. The absorbentarticle set forth in claim 16 wherein the tab comprises a fastenerregion configured for releasable attachment to the article and a gripregion being generally non-attachable to the article at least in thewear configuration for use in gripping the tab region of the tab. 19.The absorbent article set forth in claim 16 wherein the tab is attachedto the outer cover.
 20. The absorbent article set forth in claim 19wherein the tab is attached on the outer cover such that, in the wearconfiguration, the tab is disposed between the waist opening and one ofthe leg openings.